Foot arch and metatarsal support



June 1-0, 1930. H. J. CROCKER FOOT ARCH AND METATARSAL SUPPORT jFiledFeb. 18 1927 a & INVENTOR 72 BY I ATTORNEY Famed Jan. 10,1930 i1,762,161?

UNITED STATES ATENTIOFFICE'.

Application filed February 18,1927. Serial No. 169,212.

My invention relates to supports for the rial such, for instance, asflexible resilient arch of the foot, and metatarsal joints, andmetaL-leather or the like, and is'-made seghas for its object to providea removable mentalfin shape to permit the free end of the yieldingsupport for the use in the shoe of shank 3 to have a wide latitude ofmovement.

5 the wearer, and adapted to the individual The outer portion of thehood is arcuate in 55 shoe and foot, and which can be used at inshapeand extends across the insole beneath tervals or constantly inconnection with the thearch portion. The insole A 'maybe proshoe, andwith but little expense, and withvided'with the usual heel cover 4 or bewithout discomfort, and will produce healthful out it. The spring shankB conforms to the and restful results. arch of the foot while beneaththe insole, and 60 With these objects in view, my invention on the shoebottom surface and affords a consists of the following novel features ofyielding resting support to the foot to susconstruction and arrangementsof parts as tain the arch. With a removable insole, such are moreclearly hereinafter described and as shown in my invention it can beconstantpointed out in the claims, reference being had ly left withinthe shoe or only occasionally '6 t0 the accompanying drawlngs, in which:used, affording a progressive strengthening Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofmy device. relief which has a tendency to produce Fig. 2 is an edge viewpartlyin cross secstrengthening of the arch and bones of the tion of mydevice. foot. 1

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of my device. 1 In the operation of mydevice, the insoles 1 The same reference characters denote like forminga part of my device, are made in parts in each of the several figures ofthe sizes to fit the shoes thereon, and may have drawings. thereon theusual indicia and size number, or

In carrying out my invention, I provide they can be easily trimmed tofit the shoes on an insole A, made of any suitable material shoe soles;in practice, the insoles are in- Y which may have upon it the usual heelcover, serted in the shoe and may be used fromtime or be without theheel cover. This insole may to time, and by their. support, thusstrengthbe made in different sizes, kinds of material ening the" arch bygently and yieldingly supand shape to conform to the foot andthe shoeporting it, and with its adjustable lengthenin which they are to beused. Mounted on the ing spring B, the insole at the sametime conunderside of the insoleA I provide an elonforms to the shape of the footresting and gated spring metal shank B, the rear-end of strengtheningit, resting it and supporting which is fastened to the under side of theheel the arch, affording a strengthening arch on portion of the heelsole by the rivets 2, 2, or the foot. 1

5 in any other adaptable manner. The forward Having thus described myinvention, what end of the spring shank B rests free, against 1 claim asnew and for which I desire Letters the under side of the insole andtheshank is Patent is as follows: curved slightly at the point 3 toconform to; 1. In an arch support for shoes, an insole the natural shapeof the foot arch. Over the to be removably insertedwithin a shoe andfree outer end of the shank B, I have mounthaving mounted on theunderside thereof an ed on the under side of the insole in anyconelongated flat spring member, the rear end of venient manner, aflexiblebottom cover or the spring member being fastened to the unhood Ginto which the free end of the shank derside of the heel portion of theshoe insole, B extends and rests, permitting of a protecthe opposite endof the spring member being tion to the shoe bottom lining and at thesame free, and a hood for enclosing the free end of time permitting thefree end of shank B to disthe shank member, said hood having its reartend and contract on the insole bottom surface 1 end entirely open andbeing of segmental as the pressure movement ofthe foot resting shape andextending across the insole interupon the insole may produce. The hood Cmediate its ends, thereby providing a wide 50 may be made of anysuitable wearable matelatitude of movement of the free end of the 1spring member, said free end of the spring member having a slidingengagement with the inner surface of the hood member.

2. In an arch support for shoes, an insole having mounted on theunderside thereof an elongated flat spring member, the rear end of thespring member being fastened to the underside of the heel portion of theshoe insole, the opposite end of the spring member being free, and ahood for enclosing the free end of the shank member, said hood beingsecured to the underside of the insole with its rear entirely open andbeing of segmental shape so as to extend across the undersurfaee of theinsole between its ends, thereby providing a Wide latitude of movementof the free end of the spring member, with said free end of the springmember having a sliding engagement with the inner surface of the hoodmember.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HARRY J. CROCKER.

